Modular support structure and module thereof for container handling machines

ABSTRACT

A module ( 4 ) in a support structure ( 5 ) for container handling machines ( 2 ), comprises a connecting bar ( 6 ) provided with bearing expansions ( 7 ) at its ends, each of the bearing expansions ( 7 ) being detachably connectable with a corresponding bearing expansion of another module in such a way as to define a support ( 8 ) for a star wheel conveyor ( 3 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates to a modular support structure and to a module thereof for container handling machines such as rinsers, filling and capping/seaming machines.

The invention is particularly referred to bottling plants wherein star wheel conveyors and rotating platforms or carousels have to be supported and linked in a structure.

In a first prior art the star wheels are supported on a pre-drilled solid/massive table in such a way that the positions of the star wheels and of the rotating platforms are fixed and predetermined.

EP-A-1645537 discloses a worktable for container handling machines comprising connecting elements which make up at least the receptacles for the container transport elements and/or connect two or more container handling machines to each other, preferably in the form of a triangle. The connecting elements, preferably constituted by rod-shaped elements may be arranged on different levels and are connected to each other by means of vertical braces. This document replaces the solid/massive table with a tubular structure supporting and connecting the star wheel casings, although this tubular structure is not modular being rigidly predetermined. WO 2006/087088 also discloses a tubular structure: in this case, the star wheel configurations can be selectively varied by means of lateral connecting bars on the star wheel casings which consent removable connections between the star wheel casings and the machine or other star wheel casings.

This document shows in-feed and out-feed star wheels arranged to be driven on column-shaped support housings. Each support housing comprises lateral connection interfaces to which a joint end of a connecting bar is detachably attached, the other joint end being detachably connected to a connection interface of a further support housing or to a machine chassis, such that the star wheel configuration, defining the container transport paths, may be modularly varied.

WO 2006/087109 discloses a pre-table system for container handling machines wherein the support housing is fixed to a floor-standing support structure having a tube and/or profile section frame of sections directly or indirectly detachably connected to each other at jointing points by means of the support housing and floor support feet, within which the support housings are arranged in a free-standing manner such that free areas are formed around the support housings and some sections may be combined amongst one another and with support housings such that the star wheel configurations may be varied.

EP-A-1714939 discloses another solution wherein the carousel and the star wheels are rigidly interconnected by means of a plurality of tubes and there is an enclosing structure with panels.

Document DE-10214344 discloses a packaging machine comprising a machine frame having parallel longitudinal elements arranged a distance apart and transverse elements (3) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the frame and connected to the longitudinal elements in a form- and/or force-locking manner.

Document WO-02/051706 shows a modular system made of steel structural work for a packaging line, said system comprising a casing structure defining a parallelepiped space.

The documents of the prior art do not consent a real effective and easy modularity and it is still difficult to have a plurality of possible layouts able to cover all the needs of the users.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A first aim of the present invention is to avoid the above drawbacks making available an effective, simple and economic modular structure.

Another aim is to make available a modular structure able to contain wires and connections in a protected environment.

This and other aims are fully achieved by the module and by the support structure object of the present invention, which is characterized as in the appended claims.

In particular, the module comprises a connecting bar provided with bearing expansions at its ends, each of the bearing expansions being detachably connectable with a corresponding bearing expansion of another module in such a way as to define a portion of a support.

The support structure comprises a plurality of modules detachably interconnected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will be more detailed in the following description of preferred embodiments, shown as mere example, in the annexed drawings, wherein:

the FIG. 1 shows a bottling plant;

the FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the modular support structure;

the FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the modular support structure;

the FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a particular of the modular support structure;

the FIG. 5 shows a top view of the particular of FIG. 4;

the FIG. 6 shows an exploded section A-A of FIG. 5;

the FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a modular support structure according to a further embodiment;

the FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of a particular of FIG. 7;

the FIG. 9 shows a top view of the particular of FIG. 8;

the FIG. 10 shows an exploded section B-B of FIG. 9;

the FIG. 11 shows a section B-B of FIG. 9;

the FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of another further embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, there is represented a bottling plant 1 comprising one or more container handling machines 2 and a plurality of star wheel conveyors 3 only schematically illustrated.

An original module 4 for an original support structure 5 comprises a connecting bar 6 provided with bearing expansions 7 at its ends.

At each end of the connecting bar 6 there is a bearing expansion 7. Each bearing expansion is detachably connectable with a corresponding bearing expansion of another module in such a way as to define a support 8.

Preferably, the connecting bar is a hollow and tubular connecting bar, designed to be in a horizontal position when it is in place. Preferably, the bearing expansion is a hollow and tubular (or so cylindrically shaped) bearing expansion and it is designed to be in a vertical position when it is in place, in such a way as the support 8 is a column-shaped support. In other words, a bearing expansion is perpendicular with respect to the connecting bar to which it is linked, so that from a schematic point of view, each module 4 is a substantially “H-shaped” module.

The tubular connecting bars and bearing expansions are then suitable to accommodate wires and connections, if necessary, in a protected environment.

Advantageously, the connection of the bearings expansions may take place in a plurality of different angular positions such that the support structure 5 made by a plurality of modules 4 can assume different layouts on the ground.

The connection between two consecutive modules is clearly shown in FIG. 4, wherein one bearing expansion 7 of a first module 4 is coaxially superimposed with one bearing expansion 7 of a second module, an interface or flange 9 with a plurality of threaded holes 10 being disposed between the superimposed bearing expansions.

An operator fixes the flange 9 to the lower module by means of connecting means 11, preferably made of screws, (but also bolts or rivets are suitable) inserted from the bottom of the lower bearing expansion and passing through respective holes 12 drilled in a corresponding upper terminal ring 13 of the lower bearing expansion. Then the operator fixes the upper bearing expansion to the flange through screws applied from the top of the upper bearing expansion and passing through a lower terminal ring of the upper bearing expansion.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it is not important the sequence of the above operations (i.e. starting from the bottom or from the top, with reference to the ground surface) but is it is important that the last operation is the fixing of a foot 14, otherwise, if the foot was already fixed previously, it would be impossible to insert the screws from the bottom in order to fix the flange.

However, according to an alternative embodiment not shown, a previous fixing of the foot 14 is possible if the bottom of the bearing expansion 7 has a diameter large enough to allow the insertion of the screws by an operator.

Originally, the flange 9 has a plurality of pre-drilled holes, drilled according to the angular position of the two consecutive modules to be connected.

So, it is advisable to have a magazine of flanges (a low-cost element) with different configurations of pre-drilled holes in order to cover all the possible layouts of the modules and of the support structure they originate.

However, the presence of the flange is not strictly necessary, because, as an alternative solution, not illustrated, it is possible to pre-drill a plurality of holes in the terminal rings of the bearing expansions in such a way as the bearing expansions may be connected together (and to the feet) through screws without any flange there between. The number of pre-drilled holes is proportional to the possible different angular configurations of two consecutively linked modules.

Each foot 14 has the function of supporting the column-shaped support 8 for a star wheel conveyor or for other elements useful or necessary to the working of the plant, such as linear conveyors, control devices, like a camera and/or a control station and/or a cabinet for storing parts or tooling.

From the foregoing, it results that when modules are in place with respect to the plant, the connecting bars of two consecutively linked modules lie on different horizontal planes under the transport paths of the container handling machine or machines of the plant.

The flange 9 may have an appendix 15 used for the connection to a table (not illustrated) of a container handling machine.

The structure 5 may have terminal modules 16 completed with a single upper or lower bearing expansion (an upper bearing expansion completing a lower module, a lower bearing expansion completing an upper module).

The FIGS. 7 to 11 refer to a different embodiment, wherein the bearing expansions 7 are shaped in such a way as to be linked through a couple of flanges 9, and the connecting bars 6 of the support structure 5 lie on a same horizontal plane.

Each bearing expansion 7 comprises an upper protruding portion 7 a and a lower protruding portion 7 b, preferably flat, having holes 12 for the insertion of the connecting means 11 through which an upper flange 9 a and a lower flange 9 b, having threaded holes 10, are respectively fixed to upper protruding portions and lower protruding portions of bearing expansions belonging to two modules 4 to be linked together.

In this embodiment, the feet 14 are laterally screwed to the bearing expansions through elements 17.

Also in this case it is advisable to have a magazine of flanges having different configurations of threaded holes 10 in order to allow a plurality of possible configurations of the linked modules.

As an alternative solution, in order to avoid a great number of different pre-drilled flanges, it is possible to drill a higher number of holes in the flanges, in such a way as to allow a plurality of different mounting/angular positions of two consecutively linked modules. Furthermore, also in this case it is possible to avoid the use of the flanges 9 if the bearing expansions are ring-shaped bearing expansions as those schematically shown in the further embodiment of FIG. 12.

These ring-shaped bearing expansions have a plurality of pre-drilled holes allowing a plurality of different mounting positions of two consecutively linked modules.

As it concerns both the embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 11 and of FIG. 12, terminal modules (not shown) may be made having only one bearing expansion 7 (on one side of the module). 

1. Module (4) in a support structure (5) for container handling machines (2), characterized in that the module comprises: a connecting bar (6) provided with bearing expansions (7) at its ends, each of the bearing expansions (7) being detachably connectable with a corresponding bearing expansion of another module in such a way as to define a support (8).
 2. Module as in claim 1, wherein the bearing expansion (7) is a vertical tubular bearing expansion.
 3. Module as in claim 1, wherein the bearing expansion (7) has an upper protruding portion (7 a) and a lower protruding portion (7 b).
 4. Module as in claim 1 or 3, wherein the bearing expansion (7) is ring-shaped.
 5. Module as in claim 1, wherein the connecting bar (6) and the bearing expansions (7) are hollow elements.
 6. Module as in claim 1, wherein each bearing expansion (7) is detachably connectable with a corresponding bearing expansion of another module in a plurality of different angular positions such that the support structure (5) made by a plurality of modules (4) can assume different layouts.
 7. Module as in claim 1, wherein each bearing expansion (7) has at least one terminal ring (13) having a plurality of holes (12) for connecting means (11).
 8. Module as in claim 1, wherein each bearing expansion (7) has holes (12) for connecting means (11).
 9. Module as in claim 1, wherein each bearing expansion (7) has a plurality of holes (12) for connecting means (11) such that different angular position of linked modules may be obtained depending of the holes (12) engaged by the connecting means (11).
 10. Support structure (5) for container handling machine, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of modules (4) detachably interconnected, according to anyone of the preceeding claims.
 11. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein interface elements or flanges (9) are interposed between coaxial and superimposed bearing expansions (7) of different modules (4) such that two consecutive modules may be jointed together in different angular positions.
 12. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein two superimposed bearing expansions (7) form a column-shaped support (8).
 13. Support structure as in claim 11, wherein two superimposed bearing expansions (7) and the interface element or flange (9) there between form a column-shaped support (8).
 14. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein feet (14) are provided for supporting the modules (4).
 15. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein each module (4) supports at least a star wheel conveyor (3).
 16. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein the connecting bars (6) of two consecutively linked modules (4) lie on different horizontal planes under the transport paths of the container handling machine (2).
 17. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein the connecting bars (6) of two consecutively linked modules (4) lie on a same horizontal plane under the transport paths of the container handling machine (2).
 18. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein a terminal module (16) is completed by a bearing expansion (7).
 19. Support structure as in claim 10, wherein interface elements or flanges (9) connect adjacent bearing expansions (7) of different modules (4) such that two consecutive modules may be jointed together in different angular positions.
 20. Support structure as in claim 11 or 19, wherein the interface element or flange (9) defines a plurality of holes (10) for connecting means (11), said holes (10) defining a specific configuration for the connected bearing expansions (7).
 21. Support structure as in claim 11 or 19, wherein the interface element or flange (9) has an appendix (15) for the connection to a table of a container handling machine (2). 